if you can't be professional you should not run a business!

Back in the beggining of Novemeber i had received an email from the melting pot about this photography studio called Erica Deer photography, who had teamed up with them to do a lunch special and mini photo shoot. The price was $15 p/person which included the shoot and cheese and chocolate fondue. Since we had not planned Christmas photos at that point i thought it would be perfect, so we made a reservation.
We get there and it was a couple both very friendly, and as always the food was amazing!
I was looking forward to seeing the pics. that following week the woman had me come in to pick a shot to have printed. so we went and picked and were told 2 weeks max she would get the pictures back, 3 weeks pass, no call so i reached out to her thinking maybe she was just very busy and had forgotten, she told me she was waiting on Fedex and that they had come but my pics were not in that shipment and she would more than likely get it that friday afternoon, that was 3 weeks ago and i have yet to hear from her. Which is why i now have no qualms venting about her and her "business"
I mean seriously how much effort is it to return a phone call and say hey this is the deal! Because of her incomptence we were not able to do christmas cards to send out since we never got a stright anwser. last i spoke to her she said "well i'm pregnant and due in january so i technically shouldn't be working!" WTF are you kidding me! i'm due in january and if i was having such a hard time i wouldn't be setting up shoots with restaurants or leading potential clients on. Obvisouly you knew you were pregnant in November and decided to go ahead with the whole thing!. What pisses me off more is when we went in to pick our shoot she was telling me about how great her maternity sessions were and how we should book one blah blah blah....i would probably get those pictures by the time the baby turns 1 !

ok vent over

DIY hospital gown

I had heard about these "designer" hospital gowns that were on the market and being curious I looked them up. close to $100 for a piece of fabric that was only going to get thrown out was just not enough for me to splurge on.
Then i had the bright idea "what if i make my own?" I had a gown that somehow had been brought home and was just there so i looked at it for design ideas,and let me tell I can personally attest to the fact that those hospital gowns do NOT cover what YOU want or need covered. Then I came across Lazy Girl Designs, they have a Free Hospital Gown Pattern that I ordered ( you can print it at home as well)
I liked the idea of being able to pick my own fabric ...fleece in January anyone?
I never got around to go to Joanne's for fabric but i did find a gown at khols on sale for about $10 that i customized using the same principle of a hospital gown.
I cut the shoulder seams apart added snaps in place to make it accessible for BF'ing and all i have to decide is if i want the back to do the same. here are some pictures...

the gown itself


cut out the seams and added snaps ( open view)


snaps (closed view)

another closed view


now $8 i don't mind tossing away. lol

have an amazing labor buddy

back on the bump way back we all decided it would be good to have labor buddies to keep the rest of us bumpies update while another was in loabor. I was so lucky to be paired with Kristen, she has been such an amazing support system actually all of those girls have, most of them "know" me back from our first loss Feb 2008 and they have been on this long journey with us.
its great to have a place to vent and know that they won't judge or unconsiusly say they "wrong" thing.
Anyway i received a package from her today and it was a gift for monkey, just look at how cute these 2 things are!

36 weeks

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

you be the judge...did i drop?

Michael says yes, i'm not sure but i can breathe better so you be the judge

35 weeks and 36 weeks

36 week belly pic and questionaire

QUESTIONAIRE
How far along: 36 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: + 25 lbs total
Maternity clothes: nothing but
Stretch marks: one on my side by my hip
Sleep: uhmm what is that?
Best moment last week: he responds to my back cracking at the chiro lol
Movement: we have a soccer player for sure
Food cravings: apple juice
Gender: BOY!
Labor Signs: lots of daily BH now along with mild cramping & consistent back pain
Belly Button in or out: out
What I miss: shirts that cover my belly (yes even maternity ride up)
What I am looking forward to: holding our baby
Milestones: 1 more week till full term

35 week belly pic & Questionaire

QUESTIONAIRE
How far along: 35 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 25 lbs total
Maternity clothes: nothing but
Stretch marks: one on my side by my hip
Sleep: uhmm what is that?
Best moment last week: he is finally head down
Movement: we have a soccer player for sure
Food cravings: mister misty freeze in grape from DQ
Gender: BOY!
Labor Signs: lots of BH more consistent now
Belly Button in or out: out
What I miss: my boots
What I am looking forward to: our maternity shoot with autumn
Milestones: making to 35/35

merry christmas!

as bad as this video is i can't stop laughing about it
check it out

labor predictor test

says:
Just about the time you think you can't handle hearing one more "when is that baby going to pop?", your baby will decide to make it's appearance. We predict your baby will be born 3-7 days before your due date. Your baby will most likely be born in the morning. Justmommies predicts that your baby will weigh approximately 6.5 pounds and that your labor will be about 6 hours long.

http://www.justmommies.com/quizzes/labor_prediction_quiz.php

i wonder about the weight though since he was 5.2 last week....

35 weeks

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight. His nervous system and immune system are still maturing, and he's adding the fat that he'll need to regulate his body temperature. But, everything else, from his toenails to the hair on his head, is fully formed. If he were born now, he'd have more than a ninety-nine percent chance of surviving.

34 week questionaire & Belly pic

QUESTIONAIRE
How far along: 34 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: TBA (after tomorrow's appointment)
Maternity clothes: nothing but
Stretch marks: one on my side by my hip
Sleep: uhmm what is that?
Best moment last week: we think he may be transverse instead of breech
Movement: we have a soccer player for sure
Food cravings: milkshakes
Gender: BOY!
Labor Signs: lots of BH more consistent now
Belly Button in or out: out
What I miss: my skinny feet
What I am looking forward to: seeing monkey on u/s tomorrow
Milestones: car seat installed, crib is set, house is ready!

34 weeks

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

latest baby purchase

Keep little toes warm with the adorable crocheted monkey booties from Carter's. These comfy brown slip-ons feature friendly monkey faces and fold-over ankles. Machine wash cold, tumble dry low.

Carter's Newborn Crocheted Monkey Booties

we ordered these online and fell in love with them as soon as we got them! they seem well made and are adorable! can't wait to have our little monkey here to put these on him. These are very soft and no loose threads were visible anywhere

33 week belly pic and Questionaire

QUESTIONAIRE
How far along: 33 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: +23 lbs
Maternity clothes: Love Old navy! just ordered their velour set on sale during cyber monday
Stretch marks: one but my belly is one big itch
Sleep: uhmm what is that?
Best moment last week: monkey doing great on his weekly NST
Movement: we have a soccer player for sure
Food cravings: back to papaya
Gender: BOY!
Labor Signs: lots of BH and as of yesterday mild cramps
Belly Button in or out: out
What I miss: wearing my rings all day
What I am looking forward to: finishing Lamaze on sunday with hubby
Milestones: he kicked the nurse at the office because she was looking for his HB...lol

33 weeks

The 33rd week of pregnancy and the four weeks that follow mark a time of astounding growth as your baby reaches her ultimate birth weight.

This week your baby weighs a little over 4- 4 1/2 pounds (heft a pineapple) and might grow a full inch in length this week alone! He has passed the 17-inch mark.Your baby continues to gain weight rapidly — about a half pound a week. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood. Te pupils of her eyes can now adjust to bright or dim light, just like yours.His lungs continue to develop.Your amniotic fluid has reached its maximum level now — there's simply no more room! With less fluid to cushion them, your baby's kicks might feel a bit uncomfortable.

its DECEMBER!!! our year review

happy december 1st!!! I can't believe how fast this year has gone! So lets review
January -- started out pretty normal for us, celebrated another birthday for D-man

February -- Feb 14th marked 2 years to the day when we learned we had lost our first baby, I think this date will forever haunt me.

March -- got a call at 1am from the PD that my dad had been in an accident, thank god he wasn't hurt just really shaken up.

April -- got a call at 3 am my mother was being rushed to the hospital after collapsing at home in Costa Rica froma ruptured aneurysm, they weren't sure she would make it through the night, let alone the surgery they scheduled for 7am the next morning. Panicked i realized i couldn't travel because Costa Rica asks that your passports expiration is no less than 6 months off, i was at 5, so we spent Tuesday while she was in surgery driving to conneticut to expedite our passports for that very day. 3pm i got a call she made it through THANK YOU GOD!!!! We flew out Wednesday morning. I was not prepared for how i saw my mom. it was touch and go for a while and she was in ICU for about 2 weeks. I couldn't leave her like that at least not till she was home. So i sent my husband and son back home and i stayed behind. she came home almost 2 weeks later

May -- came back home after my mom had some more energy to walk around. I also came home to find out TD bank had "let me go" and they were being nice enough to not file it as job abandoment...gee thanks... i had spoken to HR about being gone for a month or so and all was fine and even with medical documentation they said if i wanted to have my job back i would have to apply for it again.!? seriously? WTF. A coworker of michael told his BIL about it who happens to work at Chase, a week later i get a call for an interview, 2 days after the interview i got the job offer. I accepted it and started the following week.
Mid month we found out we were pregnant and had not really been trying. I wondered when the other shoe would drop, and how many times it would happen this year, but i put my faith in God after all he had just pulled my mom through something even her doctors were amazed by. by all intents and purposes the survival rate for a ruptured aneuryms in the aorta are slimmer than slim to none.

June - - pregnancy is good so far, though i never stopped worrying

July -- Michael's BIG birthday. we had such a blast and things are going so smoothly

August - mini vacation camping, BBQ and just good ol' summer fun. we are in the second trimester and can breathe a little bit easier. btw did i mention we are having a BOY!!!!

September - back to school, i started nursing again, although now that i'm almost done WTH was i thinking? clinicals at night are killing me and forget studying i can barely keep my eyes open.

October - halloween!!! my favorite holiday, we went trick or treating and stayed home! as much as i wanted to go out it wasn't worth the risk of haveing something happen to me or monkey so we stayed home, besides it was cold and rainy. movies by the fireplace were more enticing!

November - 4 years of marriage! time flies and i wouldn't change anything we have been through. my husband is my best friend and so much more. I thank God everyday even at our lowest that i have him! i also had my baby shower which was completely amazing. I am so overwhelmed by knowing how mych our family and friends already love this baby. words will never express how grateful and thankful i am tobe so blessesed. Only my mom is missing and hopefully she will be back with us really soon. Thanksgiving was perfect, i made my pumpkin cheesecake which is always a hit and was finally able to eat everything. I was having minin meals thorugh out the day, but now i can finally have more.

December - my un-birthday is approaching although i'm not celebrating because i refuse to get older! lol we have our lamaze class and BF class. monkeys stuff is all set up and just waiting for him to be in it. January cannot come soon enough!

so that is it in a nutshell..not bad huh?

it pays to be on vacation

I have so much free time, i finished organizing monkey's clothes. Those who know me, know i'm super OCD and anal so this post should come as no surprise lol. anyway get ready for tons of pics of just how blessed this child is!
I have so much free time, i finished organizing monkey's clothes. Those who know me, know i'm super OCD and anal so this post should come as no surprise lol. anyway get ready for tons of pics of just how blessed this child is!

ok so this is his changing table station set up. In the basket there are diapers, wipes, creams, cotton balls, cotton swabs and the babyganics hand sanitizer on the side


in these ikea ($3.99 for a set of 3) organizers i have all of his socks


In the box that hubby made i put all his baby caps and hats, behind that is the first aide kit and another organizer with a couple of rattles, toys, and a baby pillow


1st dresser drawer
first row - NB onesies short sleeve in front / long sleeve in back
middle row - 0-3 short sleeve
3rd row - 0-3 long sleeve


next drawer
3-6
short sleeve / long sleeve / baby mittens/slippers


2nd drawer
all sleepers / all pj / misc. blankie from italy


His closet
misc sheets and receiving blankets up top along with 3 bundle me in cotton


his shoe box (for now)


top tier - sweats/lounge pants
bottom organizer tier - jeans / khakis


bottom tier - footed one piece outfits (lightweight)
top tier - footed one piece outfits (fleeze/flannel)


NB clothing divider


6-9 clothing divider


i'm waiting for this closet extender from BRU to come so i can hang some more clothes.

my sunday night project

we were ate BRU and i saw these

Our Price: $9.99

but could not justify spending money on something as simple and not needed as them.... so i figured i would try and make my own.
A trip to michael's, about $6.00 later and a killer backache from sitting for so long, i had these!





I'm very proud of them and it was nice to know i made them for monkey as opposed to just buying them.

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

32 week belly pic and questionaire

Questionaire
How far along: 32 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 23 lbs
Maternity clothes: Love Old navy!
Stretch marks: none, hope it stays that way but belly is itchy
Sleep: only with like 5 pillows
Best moment last week: seeing monkey on 3D u/s my lil chunky monkey
Movement: we have a soccer player for sure
Food cravings: watermelon
Gender: BOY!
Labor Signs: lots of BH but no true labor
Belly Button in or out: out
What I miss: my shirts
What I am looking forward to: BF class on sat and Lamaze on sunday with hubby
Milestones: seeing his cheecks and facial expressions on 3D was just priceless. i cried!

monkey in 3D

here are some pics from today's u/s, he is just perfect, love the chubby cheeks! he was being shy with his arm and hands by his face through the whole session! stubborn like daddy!

Big smile


covering his face


getting mad that daddy kept poking him so he would move


pouting!


trying to sleep...again

31 week belly pic and questionaire

How far along: 31 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 20lbs
Maternity clothes: yup and now My hubby's pj pants!
Stretch marks: none, hope it stays that way
Sleep: only with like 5 pillows
Best moment last week: seeing monkey on u/s at 30 weeks
Movement: we have a soccer player for sure
Food cravings: papaya
Gender: BOY!
Labor Signs: lots of BH but no true labor
Belly Button in or out: out
What I miss: beer! lol
What I am looking forward to: 3D u/s saturday
Milestones: every day is one

31 weeks

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

crib is all set up

Its all ready to go, i just need our little man to put in it!


and yes the frames will be getting moved away so when baby gets older he won't knock himself out with them. lol

30 weeks

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)
You baby's length is about 16 inches—about as long as a laptop computer—and she measures almost 11 inches from crown to rump. She weighs approximately 2 1/2 to 3 pounds. From now until delivery, every baby will gain weight at a more individual rate. Your baby has doubled in height over the past six weeks, and from now until delivery, she'll gain only a few more inches in length. Don't worry if she's in a strange position (what your care provider might call a "transverse lie"). There's still plenty of time for her to get settled into the head-down (cephalic) position for birth. She's floating in about 1 1/2 pints of amniotic fluid and has some room to move. Your baby's most important organ, her brain, continues to develop at a rapid pace. Her eyes are able to track light, and some researchers have theorized that exposing your belly to light may stimulate development. Try moving the beam of a flashlight slowly over your belly in a dim room, and see if she reacts.

30 week Questionaire and belly pic

Mommy's view





QUESTIONAIRE
How far along: 30 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 18lbs! i think still the same
Maternity clothes: my staple as well as spanx for belly support
Stretch marks: none, hope it stays that way
Sleep: only with like 5 pillows
Best moment last week: my shower (well 2 wks ago)
Movement: strong as ever
Food cravings: papaya
Gender: BOY!
Labor Signs: lots of BH but no true labor
Belly Button in or out: popping out
What I miss: sleep
What I am looking forward to: u/s tomorrow
Milestones: every day is one

Baby shower gifts

I wanted to get my MIL something special to say thanks for all she did for my baby shower. I had initially thought of a mfamily circle necklace i had seen at red envelope but since we are keeping the name under wraps i had to think of something different to put on it. so i came up with a different idea and found a seller on etsy willing to do it. I also had her put in the birthstones of her 3 grandkids, both D-man and monkey are january babies , and Sil & tonya's baby is october. here is the final result, it says:
We love nonna



Oh and i couldn't not thank my husband for being so amazing. so i got him this key chain.
this one reads
we have a hero, his name is daddy